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November 7, 2018

The Office of Child Care Statutory Workgroup will meet on Thursday, November 8, 2018. The meeting will be held in Salem, Oregon at the State Capitol, Room 162 from 10:00am-12:00pm.* Agenda and meeting materials are posted below. The State Capitol is located at 900 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301. For…

October 16, 2018

2018 Statewide Early Learning Conference Join the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators for their sixth annual Statewide Early Learning Conference. This year at the Hilton in Eugene. This conference energizes and empowers attendees to face changes and gain skills. With over 50 sessions, exciting networking opportunities, and thought-provoking speakers, attendees will leave…

October 12, 2018

October 12, 2018 The Early Learning Division Office of Child Care is hosting a series of in-person Engagement Sessions and Webinars to gather your feedback on upcoming rule changes – including questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, concerns, you name it! As you know a small set of changes to the child…

October 11, 2018

Oregon Early Childhood Summit: Supporting All Kids in our Programs and Classrooms Join Dr. Walter Gilliam and a panel of colleagues from diverse early childhood settings in Oregon to discuss social emotional development, equity, expulsion, and relational health for our youngest Oregonians. To be held at the Smith Memorial Student Union…

August 6, 2018

Reminder: The Early Learning Division Office of Child Care will be holding online rules engagement session for all licensed child care providers this week. Please see below for additional details. The Early Learning Division recently passed Temporary Rules for each facility, effective July 1, 2018. The Division has also opened…

August 3, 2018

The Office of Child Care (OCC) has rules available for public comment from August 1 - September 18, 2018 at 5pm. Comments can be sent to Peter Blume via email at early.learning@state.or.us or via postal service to 700 Summer St NE, Suite 350, Salem, OR 97301. A summary of these…

August 1, 2018

The Early Learning Division recently passed Temporary Rules for each facility, effective July 1, 2018. The Division has also opened rules on the Central Background Registry, training requirements, serious injury and reporting, safe sleep, and the use of restrictive infant equipment for public comment through August 20, 2018. Learn more…

July 23, 2018

Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) recently announced that the Healthy Families America (HFA) affiliate, Healthy Families Oregon (HFO), has been reaccredited as a provider of high-quality home visiting services to families who want to learn about building a strong relationship with their baby and improving their child’s health, nutrition,…

July 17, 2018

As mentioned last month, the Office of Child Care has suspended the larger child care rule process and split it into two phases. The first phase ensures the Office of Child Care meets the new legal requirements for the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), the statutory requirements of HB 4065,…

July 11, 2018

The Early Learning Division (ELD) is partnering with six Oregon Pre-kindergarten (OPK) Head Start grantees to offer extended services to participating children and families beginning in the 2018-19 program year. ELD will provide additional funds to grantees to transition 170 enrollment slots from part-day to extended-day services. Along with the…

June 29, 2018

On June 11, 2018, the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care received a directive from the Governor’s Office to address an urgent need to increase the availability of information to parents about the child care programs where their children are enrolled. “One of the highest priorities as a state…

June 22, 2018

The Office of Child Care received substantial feedback on proposed rule changes for all child care settings during the public comment period that closed May 21, 2018 and has continued to receive questions and feedback. In an effort to allow more time for public comment, as well as offer additional…

June 7, 2018

Notice of Public Hearing and Comment: The Child Care and Development Fund State Plan maps Oregon’s response to federal requirements under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. The state plan serves as the application for Child Care and Development Fund allocations and provides descriptions of, and…

June 6, 2018

Applies To: Vulnerable Populations of the City of Salem, City of Turner, Suburban East Salem Water District, and Orchard Heights Water Association Does Not Apply To: Healthy individuals over 6, Keizer, Private drinking water wells Results from water quality samples received Wednesday morning (June 6, 2018) indicate that cyanotoxins are…

June 4, 2018

The City of Salem has lifted its water advisory for Salem, the City of Turner, Suburban East Salem Water District, and Orchard Heights Water Association. Analysis of drinking water samples collected Wednesday, May 30 and Thursday, May 31 confirm toxin levels are below Health Advisory Levels, and the water is…

July 23, 2018

Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) recently announced that the Healthy Families America (HFA) affiliate, Healthy Families Oregon (HFO), has been reaccredited as a provider of high-quality home visiting services to families who want to learn about building a strong relationship with their baby and improving their child’s health, nutrition,…

July 11, 2018

The Early Learning Division (ELD) is partnering with six Oregon Pre-kindergarten (OPK) Head Start grantees to offer extended services to participating children and families beginning in the 2018-19 program year. ELD will provide additional funds to grantees to transition 170 enrollment slots from part-day to extended-day services. Along with the…

October 6, 2017

Thank you to Governor Kate Brown for proclaiming October as Head Start Awareness Month. The Early Learning Division is excited to celebrate Head Start Awareness Month. This is the time of year that Oregon Head Start Pre-Kindergarten programs from across the state connect with their partners to share about exciting…

August 17, 2017

Save the date - October 27th, 2017 (9 am to 3:30 pm) Teen-Parent Program Conference 6th Annual Teen-Parent Program Fall Conference 2017 The Teen-Parent Program Conference is organized by the Early Learning Division of the Oregon Department of Education to gather staff involved with coordination and day-to-day work of Teen Parent…

November 17, 2016

The Early Learning Division to Launch Website Promoting Brain Building in Children (Salem, Ore.) – The Early Learning Division with the Oregon Department of Education is launching a website, Brain Building Oregon, to promote brain building in children from birth to five years old. The new site features 12 resources…

March 23, 2016

Updated: July 11, 2016 As many of you know, Oregon Legislature enacted House Bill 3380, the creation of a new, publicly-funded, high quality preschool system in 2015. The model leverages high-quality, local and culturally-relevant early child care and education programs to help make preschool more widely available. By incorporating a “mixed…

March 16, 2016

The Early Learning Division is currently engaged in work to implement the Preschool Promise program enacted by the Legislature in 2015. Part of implementation will include promulgation of Oregon Administrative Rules to govern the program. The Early Learning Council will begin consideration draft rule language on March 16, 2016. The…

January 8, 2016

August 21, 2015

Oregon Head Start Pre-Kindergarten (OPK) is receiving a portion of the funding designated for mixed-delivery beginning in the first year of the 2015-2017 biennium. This additional funding will be used to 1) cover the cost of maintaining current service levels following the 2014-15 OPK expansion, 2) provide all OPK programs with…

December 10, 2014

Oregon learned this week that it was not selected to receive a Race to the Top–Preschool Development Grant. The grant would have funded high-quality preschool for an additional 1,365 income-eligible children in Oregon. The model outlined in Oregon’s grant application relied on Head Start, private preschools, community-based organizations and schools…

August 7, 2014

The Early Learning Division had a small pot of funds available to support the expansion of current OPK/Head Start programs. Grant recipients were announced in June 2014. In the spirit of transparency, you can see all of the grants and scoring results here. Grant Proposals Scoring

July 28, 2014

Please take a minute to read OPB's latest article on the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). In 2012, Oregon received $20 million to help rebuild our early learning system, with a particular focus on promoting quality early learning environments in child care settings. As you will read, Oregon's QRIS…

July 15, 2014

Thank you for your interest in the federal Early Head Start Child Care Partnership funding opportunity. Alignment and coordination of applications with state early learning systems will ensure that we achieve the best possible outcomes for as many children as possible in Oregon. The document below is designed to support…

May 15, 2014

Governor Kitzhaber today gathered with Representatives Val Hoyle and Nancy Nathanson to visit a Eugene early learning provider certified by the Oregon Early Learning Division’s rating system for qualified early learning and child care facilities. Friendship House Preschool is one of 39 sites statewide that has received a star rating…

June 6, 2018

Applies To: Vulnerable Populations of the City of Salem, City of Turner, Suburban East Salem Water District, and Orchard Heights Water Association Does Not Apply To: Healthy individuals over 6, Keizer, Private drinking water wells Results from water quality samples received Wednesday morning (June 6, 2018) indicate that cyanotoxins are…

May 29, 2018

DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER – MAY 29, 2018 INFANTS, YOUNG CHILDREN, AND OTHER VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS Applies to City of Salem, City of Turner, Suburban East Salem Water District, and Orchard Heights Water Association https://www.cityofsalem.net/Pages/drinking-water-advisory.aspx WHY IS THERE AN ADVISORY? Low levels of cylindrospermopsin and microcystin (cyanotoxins) have…

November 3, 2017

The Early Learning Division received notification from the Consumer Product Safety Commission of a recall on widely used Kidde brand fire extinguishers. Please take time to check your fire extinguisher to see if it is part of the recall. Below is the recall summary. For more details and images of…

July 10, 2017

When the Office of Child Care receives a completed Central Background Registry application form and fee, and there are no issues, processing time is normally 3-5 business days from the date the form is received at Central Office before the letter for fingerprinting is mailed out. (During the busy season of late-July thru October, process time…

June 28, 2017

At the April 27, 2017 Early Learning Council meeting, the Council adopted the charter for and directed the Early Learning Division to convene a Child Care Statutory Authority Workgroup. A copy of the charter can be found here. The Workgroup is scheduled to convene its first meeting on Thursday, June…

March 11, 2017

The Oregon Department of Education released results last week from the fourth annual Kindergarten Assessment (KA). The assessment is given each fall to entering kindergarteners and provides a snapshot of students’ foundational skills in three core areas of learning and development: early literacy, early math, and approaches to learning. “At Early…

February 21, 2017

You are invited to apply! The Early Learning Division is now accepting Requests for Application to be a Child Care Resource and Referral partner in the following service delivery areas: Region County(ies) SDA Multnomah Multnomah SDA Marion-Polk-Yamhill Marion, Polk, Yamhill SDA Washington Washington SDA Clackamas Clackamas SDA North Coast Clatsop,…

November 10, 2016

The Early Learning Council will begin formal rulemaking to amend rules governing license-exempt child care providers accepting federal subsidies. The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 requires states and territories to conduct health and safety monitoring inspections for all child care providers who accept federal funding from…

November 10, 2016

The Early Learning Council will begin rulemaking to revise administrative rules relating to enrollment in the Central Background Registry established pursuant to ORS 329A.030. The Early Learning Division, Office of Child Care (OCC) administers the Central Background Registry (CBR) pursuant to ORS 329A.030. OCC conducts background checks on individuals associated…

November 10, 2016

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) was notified by the Portland Water Bureau (PWB) confirming that lead levels in the Portland water service area had recently exceeded federal standards. As public health officials and the agency responsible for regulating lead levels in municipal drinking water systems, OHA directed the PWB to…

November 3, 2016

Eugene, Oregon | The Higher Education Coordinating Commission, Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) encourages students statewide to apply now for grants and scholarships at OregonStudentAid.gov. OSAC awards more than $80 million each year in state-funded grants and privately funded scholarships to help students meet their college expenses. More…

October 28, 2016

Be Seen. Be Safe. Dress bright morning and night As daylight saving time ends Sunday morning, Nov. 6, TriMet and our partners want to remind everybody to turn clocks back an hour, change the batteries in smoke detectors and increase safety when walking and biking. During the darker months, TriMet…

September 13, 2016

The Early Learning Division invites you to participate in an upcoming conference titled Building Early Learning Partnerships for a Strong Foundation in Education. This conference, which will bring providers of early learning services and K-3 educators together for a shared professional learning experience, will take place on November 17-18, 2016…

September 28, 2017

The Early Learning Council announced today the two recipients of the 2017 Lynne Angland Award. The Lynne Angland Award recognizes people and organizations who improve safety, quality, affordability and access to child care in Oregon at both the state and local levels. Lynne Angland was a passionate visionary dedicated to…

November 4, 2016

If you are interested in receiving news from the Early Learning Division, you should subscribe to our mailing list! If you are already subscribed to our mailing list, you can update your preferences by following the link above. We want to start or continue sending you information that you care…

November 3, 2016

Eugene, Oregon | The Higher Education Coordinating Commission, Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) encourages students statewide to apply now for grants and scholarships at OregonStudentAid.gov. OSAC awards more than $80 million each year in state-funded grants and privately funded scholarships to help students meet their college expenses. More…

July 6, 2016

There is a growing recognition that achieving third grade success requires a strong continuum of support starting with prenatal development through third grade (P-3). Oregon’s Early Learning Division and Department of Education are partnering with The Children’s Institute, Oregon Community Foundation (OCF), The Ford Family Foundation, and Portland State University…

June 15, 2016

The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (CCDBG) requires states to develop health and safety requirements for all child care facilities that accept reimbursement through Child Care and Development Fund subsidy payments. Oregon Revised Statutes 329A.505 authorizes the Office of Child Care to conduct on-site inspections when…

May 5, 2016

The Early Learning Council will begin formal rulemaking to implement the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. The Act requires states and territories to conduct health and safety monitoring inspections for all child care providers who accept federal funding from the Child Care and Development Fund. The…

April 22, 2016

The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is pleased to issue the Request for Proposal (RFP) to focus on the achievement of Oregon’s African American/Black students. The programs and services to be provided under the grant will support African American and Black students to have access to a range of knowledge, skills, and abilities that will…

March 23, 2016

Updated: July 11, 2016 As many of you know, Oregon Legislature enacted House Bill 3380, the creation of a new, publicly-funded, high quality preschool system in 2015. The model leverages high-quality, local and culturally-relevant early child care and education programs to help make preschool more widely available. By incorporating a “mixed…

March 16, 2016

The Early Learning Division is currently engaged in work to implement the Preschool Promise program enacted by the Legislature in 2015. Part of implementation will include promulgation of Oregon Administrative Rules to govern the program. The Early Learning Council will begin consideration draft rule language on March 16, 2016. The…

July 15, 2015

The Early Learning Council will be hosting a Community Forum. Date: July 22nd Time: 6:30-8:30 Location: Northwest Regional ESD Service Center, 2515 Third Street, Tillamook, OR 97141 Child care will be provided free of charge and an interpreter can be available if needed. Go to bit.ly/ELCJulyForum to register. Thank you!…

February 13, 2015

January 30, 2015

On January 29th, the Early Learning Council passed permanent rules related to the use of marijuana in child care facilities. As has been the case since the temporary rules passed in August, a licensed child care provider cannot be the holder of a registered Oregon Medical Marijuana Program card. These permanent…

August 7, 2014

On August 6, 2014 the Early Learning Council took unanimous action to adopt child care licensing rules that clarify policies about the use of alcohol and tobacco products as well as illegal controlled substances including medical marijuana. You can find the approved temporary rules below: Central Background Registry Registered Family…

November 7, 2018

The Office of Child Care Statutory Workgroup will meet on Thursday, November 8, 2018. The meeting will be held in Salem, Oregon at the State Capitol, Room 162 from 10:00am-12:00pm.* Agenda and meeting materials are posted below. The State Capitol is located at 900 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301. For…

October 12, 2018

October 12, 2018 The Early Learning Division Office of Child Care is hosting a series of in-person Engagement Sessions and Webinars to gather your feedback on upcoming rule changes – including questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, concerns, you name it! As you know a small set of changes to the child…

August 6, 2018

Reminder: The Early Learning Division Office of Child Care will be holding online rules engagement session for all licensed child care providers this week. Please see below for additional details. The Early Learning Division recently passed Temporary Rules for each facility, effective July 1, 2018. The Division has also opened…

August 3, 2018

The Office of Child Care (OCC) has rules available for public comment from August 1 - September 18, 2018 at 5pm. Comments can be sent to Peter Blume via email at early.learning@state.or.us or via postal service to 700 Summer St NE, Suite 350, Salem, OR 97301. A summary of these…

August 1, 2018

The Early Learning Division recently passed Temporary Rules for each facility, effective July 1, 2018. The Division has also opened rules on the Central Background Registry, training requirements, serious injury and reporting, safe sleep, and the use of restrictive infant equipment for public comment through August 20, 2018. Learn more…

July 17, 2018

As mentioned last month, the Office of Child Care has suspended the larger child care rule process and split it into two phases. The first phase ensures the Office of Child Care meets the new legal requirements for the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), the statutory requirements of HB 4065,…

June 29, 2018

On June 11, 2018, the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care received a directive from the Governor’s Office to address an urgent need to increase the availability of information to parents about the child care programs where their children are enrolled. “One of the highest priorities as a state…

June 22, 2018

The Office of Child Care received substantial feedback on proposed rule changes for all child care settings during the public comment period that closed May 21, 2018 and has continued to receive questions and feedback. In an effort to allow more time for public comment, as well as offer additional…

June 7, 2018

Notice of Public Hearing and Comment: The Child Care and Development Fund State Plan maps Oregon’s response to federal requirements under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. The state plan serves as the application for Child Care and Development Fund allocations and provides descriptions of, and…

May 24, 2018

Notice of Public Hearing and Comment: The Child Care and Development Fund State Plan maps Oregon’s response to federal requirements under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014. The state plan serves as the application for Child Care and Development Fund allocations and provides descriptions of, and…

May 1, 2018

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking & Public Hearing: The Early Learning Council has extended the public comment period until May 21, 2018 for permanent administrative rules relating to licensed and regulated child care facilities. A public hearing has been scheduled for May 15, 2018: Tuesday, May 15, 2018 6:00pm (members of the public…

March 23, 2018

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: The Early Learning Council will begin rulemaking to adopt permanent administrative rules relating to licensed and regulated child care facilities. ORS 329A directs the Early Learning Council to adopt administrative rules relating to licensed and regulated child care facilities to ensure the health and safety of…

January 24, 2018

The Early Learning Council will continue to accept public testimony for lead testing water in child care facilities until 5pm January 25, 2018. Please send to alyssa.chatterjee@state.or.us. A link to public testimony that was received by the initial January 21, 2018 deadline can be found at this link: https://oregonearlylearning.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/ELD-Public-Testimony-Received_LeadRules.pdf Added 2/23: Additional…